DRC Programme Coordinator

Full-time position (part-time considered), on a remote- or hybrid-working basis.

Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) is a human rights organisation working in solidarity with forest peoples to secure their rights to own, manage and control their customary forests and lands and determine their own futures. FPP works with forest peoples in South America, Africa, and Asia to help them secure their rights, build up their own organisations and negotiate with governments and companies to ensure that any economic and conservation activities on their lands respect their rights to self-determination. Gender equality is also a cross-cutting principle of our work. For more information see our website www.forestpeoples.org

Our work in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has a particular focus on conservation and human rights (working with the Batwa dispossessed of their lands by the Kahuzi-Biega National Park) as well as business and human rights, particularly mining (working with indigenous communities in both South Kivu and Tshopo provinces). FPP also engages with national and provincial policy processes connected to these themes, in collaboration with both communities and local civil society partners, while also linking to relevant global policy spaces (e.g. relating to climate, biodiversity, corporate accountability etc.). Supporting communities to strengthen their autonomy and governance systems, and to participate in policy processes, as well as integrating gender equality, are cross-cutting elements of our DRC work.

DRC Programme Coordinator

FPP is looking for an organised, proactive person with experience working on the rights of indigenous peoples and/or local communities, to coordinate as well as directly engage in our community and policy work in the DRC. The role will involve supporting and engaging in community and policy work, initially in Tshopo and/or South Kivu, as well as at national level, providing strategic oversight and guidance to our work in the DRC, and managing and participating in several ongoing or upcoming projects (including liaison with donors and collaborators), with support from other team members. For a candidate with legal skills, the role could also involve supporting or supervising some ongoing legal work, although this is not a requirement for the post.

The role will work across all three FPP programmes (Legal and Human Rights, Environmental Governance and Responsible Finance Programmes). The programme in which the role will sit will depend on the successful candidate’s profile.

Tasks and responsibilities

In collaboration with other members of FPP’s DRC team and wider FPP staff, the role may include:

• Coordinating FPP’s work in the DRC in accordance with FPP’s collaborative approach.
• In collaboration with other FPP staff and partners, working directly with indigenous peoples and local communities, including through training, consultations, participatory action-research, capacity-building, providing support and advice, and other methods, to support the realisation of communities’ self-determination and respect for their rights. This may include e.g. evidence gathering in support of legal cases or non-judicial complaints, documenting traditional knowledge and methods, customary tenure, and governance systems, facilitating community discussions and decision-making, provision of information to communities on laws, policies and projects that affect them, support community mapping and monitoring, among other areas of work.
• Analysing policy and strategic trends in key issues affecting indigenous and other marginalised forest peoples in DRC, and engaging in policy advocacy, in collaboration with community and civil society partners and allies, to advance the protection of indigenous and forest peoples’ rights in policy and practice.
• Adopting a mainstreamed and cross-cutting approach to gender equality in work at community and policy level.
• Preparing reports, publications, training materials, and other documents, and reviewing other DRC-related reports and other communications (in French and English) before publication.
• Collaborating and liaising with FPP staff and partners working in DRC, the Congo Basin, and globally on strategy, tactics, and approaches, as well as internal administrative and organisational issues, as needed.
• Building relationships with other civil society actors (local, national, and international) working in DRC.
• General oversight of all DRC projects, and specific project management responsibilities (budget management, work planning, contracting partners, reporting to donors, associated project administration) for some projects.
• Fundraising (including preparing and contributing to fundraising proposals) for our work in DRC.

Please note FPP is unable to sponsor a visa for this post, and candidates must have or be able to obtain the right to work in their proposed location.

Skills and Experience

Essential criteria:

• Professional working proficiency in French and English.
• Excellent organisational, coordination and oral and written communication skills.
• Significant experience working on indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ rights in the Congo Basin, ideally in relation to land rights, business, and human rights and/or conservation and human rights.
• Understanding of, and commitment to, the mission and vision of FPP.
• Some previous experience of project management in an NGO, including fundraising and liaison with donors.
• A positive and collaborative approach, patience, and flexibility.
• Willingness to travel to and within DRC, including to Kinshasa, and Tshopo and South Kivu provinces.

Desirable criteria:

• Spoken Lingala or Swahili.
• Experience working with rural communities in the Congo Basin, ideally including experience of and/or familiarity with working in DRC.
• Experience managing staff and projects.

Terms

• Full-time position (proposals for part-time will be considered)
• Place of work: Remote-or hybrid-working. For hybrid-working arrangements, FPP’s office is in Moreton-in-Marsh in the UK, and while FPP does not have regional offices, it may be possible to secure a place of work at a partner office). Candidates must have the right to work in their proposed location of work. (Candidates whose place of work is outside of the DRC will not need to have the right to work in the DRC, as that will be subject to obtaining appropriate visas for travel which FPP will support.)
• Contract: Since FPP is legally constituted in the UK, candidates based in non-UK locations will be recruited on a consultancy contract basis, while candidates in the UK will be on a permanent employment contract. FPP endeavours to ensure long-term and equitable terms and conditions for both non-UK and UK based consultants and employees.
• Travel: This role is likely to require travel of around 6 weeks per year. This will include travel to/within DRC, to the UK office for planning and other meetings, and other regional or international travel if required.
• Start date: As soon as possible after the 1st of February 2024 (but we will wait for the right candidate).
• Holiday: 25 days holiday allowance, plus public holidays, plus an additional 2–5-day holiday during the annual office closure between Christmas and New Year.
• Salary: The salary offered will be commensurate with experience and may vary depending on location due to variations in tax arrangements and cost of living considerations.

To apply

Please visit our website via the 'Apply' button. Please note we are also advertising for the role of DRC Project Officer/Policy Advisor. Candidates are welcome to apply for both vacancies, and if so only one covering letter and CV would be needed.

Deadline for applications: Wednesday 31st January 2024

Expected interview dates: Week beginning 12th February 2024 (held by Zoom or Teams)

We regret that we are unable to contact or give feedback to those candidates who are not short-listed for interview.

Apply Here